A protest by junior doctors in Birmingham this month.
Photograph: Paul Stringer/Demotix/Corbis

Hopes are rising that a series of strikes by junior doctors can be averted as their leaders and the health secretary hold talks at Acas to try to settle their dispute.

Negotiations begin on Thursday and are an effort to find a compromise agreeable to both sides over a new contract that Jeremy Hunt has threatened to impose on the medics.

Officials at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service will oversee the first formal face-to-face discussions in 13 months between representatives of the British Medical Association and NHS Employers and Department of Health civil servants.

But, as things stand, the first walkout – in which England’s 45,000 junior doctors intend to provide emergency-only cover for 24 hours – is still set to go ahead next Tuesday.

The BMA said the walkout would proceed as planned unless Hunt dropped his threat to impose a contract if the two sides could not thrash out an agreement.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of council at the doctors’ union, said: “It is encouraging that Jeremy Hunt has made a significant shift in accepting the BMA’s offer of conciliatory talks through Acas, finally recognising that trust has broken down between junior doctors and the government.

“Junior doctors and the public, who by now will be used to Jeremy Hunt’s political game-playing, will not be surprised by the fact that he has waited until now to do the right thing.”

He said the BMA wanted to reach “a collaborative agreement for the benefit of patients and the NHS. Importantly, Jeremy Hunt must finally remove his threat of imposition in order to defer Tuesday’s industrial action.”

Sarah Wollaston, the Tory MP and former GP who chairs the Commons health select committee, criticised the BMA for persisting with strike action while simultaneously engaging in talks.

“Pleased to hear from [the] prime minister that government have agreed to Acas conciliation. I hope the BMA will now suspend strike action,” tweeted Wollaston, who had been working behind the scenes to try to avert the strikes.

As recently as last weekend Hunt had ruled out direct talks without preconditions between the two sides, despite NHS bosses and senior doctors making it clear privately that he should be more flexible to avoid industrial action.

In a letter to Porter announcing his U-turn, Hunt said: “Whilst I believe the right thing to do is return to the negotiating table directly, it is clear that any talks are better than strikes, so in the first instance I am very happy for my officials and NHS Employers to commence those talks using Acas conciliation services.”

In a recent ballot, 98% of BMA junior doctors who voted backed strike action in protest at the threatened new contract. They say it is unfair for doctors and unsafe for patients.

Hunt said: “My strong preference is to get round the table and agree with the BMA how we do so [improve the number of doctors on duty in hospitals at weekends] in a way that you consider fair, and we are willing to listen and negotiate on any concerns.”

Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “Employers across the NHS will welcome a return to discussions with the BMA, working with Acas conciliation services. I remain hopeful that through our joint endeavours we can end this dispute, and modernise the contracts for doctors whilst also addressing their concerns.”